CELEBRATING CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE (2)
In last week’s Journal entry I wrote about the changes which were brought to the celebration of Christian
marriage. In the last thirty years new marriage rituals have been published which take into greater account the
individual situation of couples and of Christian comm unities. W hat is paramount in all this is to discover the
loving presenc e of Go d at the heart of the couple’s com m itment. In discovering the greatness o f hum an love
there is a go od c han ce o f also discovering the gran deu r of divine love of wh ich it is the sac ram ent.
A N E N L IG H T E N IN G W O R D
It was an altogether new experience to give to engaged couples the possibility of choosing from twe nty-six
scripture readings divided in three catego ries: those re ferring to m arriage itself (fruitfulness, love, fidelity,
mutual respect); those referring to the union of God with humankind, in marriage (symbolic themes); and those
referring to Christian living in general (charity, beatitude, divine indwelling). Such a choice mak es for a richer
liturgy. Hence forth several months prior to the wedding couples can be given the m arriag e lectionary, m editate
on the readings, and choose those texts they wish to retain for the wedding. In th is way the liturgy of the W ord
is more adequate to the couple’s m entality. The selection also helps one discover Holy Scripture and its place
in our lives; it should also be the occasion of fruitful dialogue between the priest and the couple. As they are
led to reflect on the mea ning and the im port of the texts chosen, the couple could discuss them with the priest
and togethe r they could share their rea ctio ns to th e re adings. In this way, the choice of readings could give
rise to a marriage catechesis to the couple. It is highly recomm ended that the choice of readings be left to the
couple themselves; the priest’s role is to guide, to shed light on the meaning of the readings and at times,
initiate a profound discussion. This biblical renewal shows us a richer vision of the meaning of marriage.
A T RUE R E V E L AT IO N
It is also desirable that marriage preparation be an occasion not only for choosing and sharing on relevant
liturgical texts, but also to reflect tog eth er on the altogethe r ne w m eaning conferred to their marriage by the
Christian Revelation: what is at stake is the significance they want to give to their love ; as a m atter of fact,
Christian m arriage introduces them into the great mystery of the faith. If they rem ain open and listen , the Ho ly
Sp irit will gradually lead the couple, through the often disconcerting unfolding of their lives, to a fuller discovery
of God-with-us. This discovery of the Emm anuel at the heart of their lives is at the basis of the sense of
celebration which the couple now want to experience: th e discovery that Je sus so greatly respected human
love between man and woman. He has m ade it a sign of God’s love and presence in the midst of humankind.
M EANINGFUL S O N G S
Once the scripture texts have been chosen which reflec t the greatn ess and dignity of C hristia n m arriage, it is
possible to pick appropriate liturgical songs. To this effect, guidelines have been adopted by the Diocesan
Com mission on Liturgy and Culture. In liturgical celebrations, every song must have a spiritual meaning as
we ll as poetic and m usical value. It m ust be prayerful and bear a C hristian m essag e, be condu cive to reflection
and to meeting Jesus in the sacrament; it must also be exp ressive o f the coup le’s joy, fidelity, com m itment,
peace, and mutual gift. W e must aim at a unified and prayerful liturgy. It is not necessary to have many songs:
tim e must also be given to periods of silence; also recomm ended are organ pieces. The use of psalms m ust
also be given greater pride of place, and particular songs must be maintained: entrance or gathering songs,
responsorial psalm, comm union song. It is not sufficient to choose a song or a particular pie ce of m usic sim ply
because we like it: we m ust as k w hethe r it is a liturgical song or w hethe r it is suitab le to the occasion. O nly
liturgical songs m ay be used for we ddings. Song s referring to God or to love are not all liturgical. In concert
with the archdiocese of Moncton and the diocese of Bathurst, our diocesan liturgy comm ission is in the
process of revising its list of autho rised liturgical songs, with indication regarding their appropriateness for
a particu lar part of the liturgy.
W ITH
OR WITHOUT THE
E UCHARIST
It is the couple’s choice to decide on the format of marriage celebration, within Church norms. Their choice
will take into account diocesan regulations as well as reflect on local deanery circum sta nces. The choice will
be made according to their own personal convictions. If the Eucharist is a major value to them, they will most
surely want to have their marriage take place within the Mass: the Covenant of the Lord sealed in his Body
and Blood reveals the special dimension of Christian marriage. However, one must not believe that there must
be a m ass at every m arriage. One m ust not have less este em for the Liturgy of the W ord where God is
present to the couple and the community. As with the celebration of Confirmation, a number of parishes are
trying to h igh light th e greatn ess of on e sacram ent at a tim e and do so with in the contex t of a W ord liturgy.
In like m anner, the importance of Christian marriage can be highlighted in a liturgy of the W ord. Besides,
the m ain reaso n for gathering for a w edd ing is to c elebrate the m arriage co m m itment. a well-prepared W ord
liturgy raises the assembled comm unity’s level of celebration: there is a greater sense of the Presence of God,
prayer, and meditation; there is praise, but especially an exchange of consen t enlightened by the W ord of God.
A W ISH
I hope that this reflection on the celebration of Christian marriage contributes in its own way to remind our
people of the grandeur of Christian marriage. In the words of the Little Prince I would tell engaged couples:
«It is the time you will have spent loving the rose which will make your flower even m ore beautiful. W e see well
only with the heart.» T he tim e which the couple will have put in carefully preparing their wedding celebration
will be rewarded a hundredfold: in its simplicity and truth, the celeb ration will revea l to them and their gu ests
an unforgettable aspect of their love.
+ François Thibodeau
Bishop of Edmundston
« F rom A B ishop’s Journal » (390) (27 June 2001)